Music Life

Santigold, Black Thought and theOGM of Ho99o9 discuss how best to balance information and imagery, how being an artist is about dancing between spaces, the importance of not overthinking your art, and how to write an arena banger.Santigold is a singer and producer whose music is influenced by everything from hip-hop and punk, to gospel and reggae. Born in Philadelphia, she began her musical career writing for other artists, and performing in a punk band, before releasing her self-title debut album in 2008 to huge critical acclaim. Bringing things up-to-date, 2022 saw Santi put out her fifth studio album Spirituals, the first release on her own label Little Jerk Records.Tarik Trotter, AKA Black Thought, is an American rapper and actor who is regarded as one of the most important MC’s of his time. He was the lead MC of the Philadelphia-based hip-hop group The Roots, and has recently released a new album in collaboration with Danger Mouse called Cheat Codes.theOGM, from the band Ho99o9, is an American musician whose fusion of hip-hop and industrial metal simply hasn’t been done before. They’re known for visceral live shows and have worked with some of the greats across metal and punk, including Slipknot’s Corey Taylor and The Prodigy.

Dele Sosimi, Angélique Kidjo, the Allergies and Shingai discuss discuss why music is their calling, loving the bass, being custodians and transmitters of messages, the importance of preserving music and putting it into a new space, and why making music is like your subconscious, creative self sending you messages. Dele Sosimi is a Nigerian-British singer and keyboard player, whose career went into overdrive at the height of the Afrobeat in the 1970s, joining Fela Kuti’s legendary group Egypt 80. Currently he performs in three ensembles and lives for his live shows, which release his passion and unrelenting spirit.Beninese singer, actress, and activist Angélique Kidjo is known for her striking voice, electric stage presence, and her fluency in multiple languages. She’s a creative force, having released 16 albums and winning five Grammy Awards.Zimbabwean-British singer Shingai spent more than a decade as the frontwoman and bassist of indie-rock band Noisettes. Her soulful and mesmerizing sound mixes up her London world with her Bantu and Zimbabwean heritage. DJ Moneyshot and Rackabeat, a.k.a. the Allergies, are a duo from Bristol, UK, who’ve made it their mission to turn vintage sounds into modern dancefloor bangers. Inspired by the golden eras of funk, soul and disco, they’re known for their infectious grooves and bold basslines.

Σtella, Michelle Gurevich, and Las Palabras discuss the difference between writing in your first or second language, insisting you use major chords in your work to sound happy, why the songs that live in your head are always so simple, and why more is actually more.Greek singer Σtella started out focusing on visual arts before getting into music, studying at Athens School of Fine Arts. Her sound combines indie, synthpop and folk music, drawing on Greek instruments such as the bouzouki and giving a modern twist. Michelle Gurevich is a Canadian singer known for her intimate ballads that combine humour with dark realism. She was brought up on her parents' collection of Soviet and ‘70s European records, and creates a decadent yet dramatic sound that sells out shows across Eastern Europe and beyond. Rafael Cohen - AKA Las Palabras - is a Guatemalan-American singer and bassist who plays bass for rock band !!! (Chk Chk Chk). His current project arose out of a desire to write songs in his native language of Spanish, despite not being very proficient, and creates charming songs that draw on the sounds of Brazilian popular music, American soul and the traditional sounds of Mexico.

November Ultra, Barbara Pravi, Mélissa Laveaux, Yael Naim, and Pi Ja Ma discuss writing songs from their beds, catastrophe in music, feeling connection to family, and being a bad musician away from the public.November Ultra started singing at the age of three in Paris with with her Spanish mother and Portuguese father. She embraces the many facets of folk, R&B and the Iberian music traditions she grew up with. Barbara Pravi is one of the biggest stars in French chanson. Her powerful and passionate vocals have drawn comparisons with icons such as Édith Piaf and Jacques Brèl, and in 2021 she came second in the Eurovision Song Contest with her song, Voilá. Mélissa Laveaux is a Haitian-Canadian performer known for her poetic lyrics and unique guitar style. She sings in both English and Haitian Creole, and her adventurous songwriting sees her do everything from reinterpreting long-lost Haitian tunes to exploring the lives of resilient women that history has cast aside. Yael Naim is a Franco-Israeli singer and multi-instrumentalist who, in a 20 year career, has created a sound world that stretches from upbeat piano pop to introspective and emotional music.Pi Ja Ma started out busking covers of Patti Smith and The Velvet Underground. After taking part in French talent show La Nouvelle Star aged 17, she’s gone on create bold tracks with lush arrangements that are inspired as much by ‘60s pop as contemporary indie-pop.

Jockstrap, Flux Pavilion and Mala discuss writing music on games consoles, passing the baton between each other in collaboration, music connecting in the right time and place, and hearing your songs in a club. Jockstrap are Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye, a duo from London who are changing the indie world with their genre-bending debut album I Love You Jennifer B. The pair met when Georgia was studying jazz and spotted Taylor wearing tartan pyjamas on his way to do his laundry. They meld together a kaleidoscopic blend of pop, disco, jazz, dubstep, with classical influences, impressionistic lyrics, and lush melodies.For more than a decade, electronic producer and dubstep trailblazer Josh Steele, aka Flux Pavilion, pioneered new bass sounds for the dancefloor, before co-founding the influential Circus Records label. He’s now in a new era of productivity, using analog synth-driven melodies to create new soundscapes.Pioneering dance music producer and DJ Mark Lawrence, aka Mala, changed UK dance music forever with the creation of dubstep, slowing down the tempo, increasing the snap of the percussion, and adding shelf-wobbling, ear-splitting bass to the music. He’s also the co-founder of production duo Digital Mystikz.

Patrick Watson, Weyes Blood, Flume and Caroline Shaw discuss why perfection is a route to self-sabotage, having to play by the rules as a new artist, the pressure to be more candid and expose more of your personal life, and the ability of new technology to revolutionise music creation.Singer, film composer and multi-instrumentalist Patrick Watson was born in California but raised in Montreal, Canada. He performed in local church choirs and played keyboards in a high-school ska band before co-writing several tracks with The Cinematic Orchestra. Joining him is alt-pop singer and multi-instrumentalist Natalie Mering, aka Weyes Blood. She says she speaks to inspire the romanticism that is in us all with her gloomy sonic explorations. Harley Streten, aka Flume, is a Grammy Award-winning musician, DJ and producer from Australia, known for his melodic, layered electronic sound, blending future bass and pop.Caroline Shaw is a composer and violinist who is one of the leading figures in contemporary classical music. She began playing the violin at two years old, and in 2013 became the youngest ever winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

Angel Olsen, Julianna Barwick and Marissa Nadler discuss going to the movies on Christmas Day, wanting to chill out over the holiday, why they try to not make ‘normal’ music, creating a rough exterior of your personality, and getting lost in landscapes.Angel Olsen is a guitarist, singer, and poet from Missouri, USA who sings about romantic crises, life on the road, forgiving yourself for making mistakes, betrayal, and perseverance. Julianna Barwick is a singer who experiments with loops of her voice to create huge cinematic landscapes. She takes the listener on widescreen psychic journeys; her work is inspired by growing up in a church choir. Folk and Americana singer, guitarist, and visual artist Marissa Nadler is from Nashville, Tennessee. Her work glides between dreamy folk music, black metal and meditative ambient music, culminating in a sound that is deeply intimate and endlessly creative.

Skin, Nona Hendryx and Paolo Nutini discuss writing songs in your dreams, knowing when to grab at an idea, why playing piano can take you to places you have no right to go, and fighting on stage.Skin grew up in a Jamaican family in Brixton, London, and as a child, wanted to be a pianist. She formed Skunk Anansie in 1994 and they became pioneers of the Britrock scene, speaking out against racism, homophobia and sexism. She was also the first Black artist to headline the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury Festival when the band performed there in 1999.Vocalist, songwriter, producer, author and actress Nona Hendryx was a member of the pioneering girl group Labelle in the 1960s and 1970s. Since then, her avant-garde solo career has taken in everything from hard rock to RnB to house music, and she intends to become a cyborg and still make music.Following an 8 year absence from the music scene, Scottish singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini is back with his latest project Last Night in the Bittersweet, and pop superstar Lewis Capaldi has declared himself a huge fan.

Seckou Keita, Julie Fowlis, Anandi Bhattacharya and Richard Bona discuss why words are easy, story-telling being a family tradition, feeling free with the melody, and finding the confidence to experiment.Seckou Keita was born in Ziguinchor in Senegal and is descended from the Griots – a family of musicians and storytellers whose tradition is passed down from one generation to the next. Cameroonian Richard Bona is one of the world’s most acclaimed bass players, and has played with the likes of Oumou Sangaré, Buena Vista Social Club and Sting.Julie Fowlis is a world-renowned folk singer from Scotland. She has been deeply influenced by her early upbringing in the Outer Hebrides, and sings in the Gaelic language, as well as enjoying exploring many other traditions.Anandi Bhattacharya is originally from Kolkat, India, and started singing at the age of three. Despite being rooted in the Indian classical tradition from her musical family, she embraces both traditional and contemporary vocal styles.

Nyokabi Kariūki, Moor Mother, Edward Wakili-Hick and KMRU discuss yelling to the universe, why making music is easy, quick thinking collaborations, what experimentalism means to them, and struggling through your processes.Nyokabi Kariūki grew up in Nairobi and played classical piano from an early age, before moving to New York to study composition. Her sound is guided by a love for experimentation, improvisation and collaboration.KMRU, a sound artist and musician who is also from Nairobi, is one of the leading exponents of Kenya’s experimental music scene. His hypnotic ambient music is made up of environmental sounds and field recordings; he’s also the grandson of the influential Benga and gospel artist Joseph Kamaru.Nigerian-British musician and drummer Edward Wakili-Hick is a member of renowned jazz quartet Sons of Kemet. His most recent project, Nok Cultural Ensemble, draws on Afro-diasporic percussive traditions to create a sound that looks both to the past and the future.Poet, musician and educator Camae Ayewa, aka Moor Mother, is one of the most in-demand musicians around. Her sound delves into free jazz, soul and Black classical traditions.